Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Dark Suites Music Reviews

This a huge collection for the Depeche Mode fan. If you're like me, you've been following these electro-alt gods for decades. Everytime you think their done, they come back with an album that just knocks you out. Their latest CD "Song of the Universe" was filled with singable tunes that reminded me of "Songs For the Masses", but when they decided to tour on the strength of this new album, no one would have guessed what a HUGE powerhouse this band could still be after all these years. Watching the video is a combination of a greatest hits collection and also seeing that electro-alt music who many critics have stupidly written off many times in the past still have the ability to knock their fans on their collective asses. DEPECHE MODE still has the touch. And even a lackluster fan will have admit after watching this awesome collection of music that these guys can still rock the arena in a big way. The extras are worth their weight in gold. The fact that they made the smart decision to record the Barcelona leg of the tour just goes to show these guys know who their target audience is. Spain, among other countries, LOVES DM! And this audience shows their love for every single song, old or new.

Tracks:Disc 1AudioVisual 1. Intro (Live In Barcelona) 2. In Chains (Live In Barcelona) 3. Wrong (Live In Barcelona) 4. Hole To Feed (Live In Barcelona) 5. Walking In My Shoes (Live In Barcelona) 6. It's No Good (Live In Barcelona) 7. A Question Of Time (Live In Barcelona) 8. Precious (Live In Barcelona) 9. Fly On The Windscreen (Live In Barcelona) 10. Jezebel (Live In Barcelona) 11. Home (Live In Barcelona) 12. Come Back (Live In Barcelona) 13. Policy Of Truth (Live In Barcelona) 14. In Your Room (Live In Barcelona) 15. I Feel You (Live In Barcelona) 16. Enjoy The Silence (Live In Barcelona) 17. Never Let Me Down Again (Live In Barcelona) 18. Dressed In Black (Live In Barcelona) 19. Stripped (Live In Barcelona) 20. Behind The Wheel (Live In Barcelona) 21. Personal Jesus (Live In Barcelona) 22. Waiting For The Night (Live In Barcelona) 23. World In My Eyes (Live In Barcelona) 24. Sister Of Night (Live In Barcelona) 25. Miles Away / The Truth Is (Live In Barcelona) 26. One Caress (Live In Barcelona)

High Definition Audiovisual 1. Intro (Live In Barcelona) 2. In Chains (Live In Barcelona) 3. Wrong (Live In Barcelona) 4. Hole To Feed (Live In Barcelona) 5. Walking In My Shoes (Live In Barcelona) 6. It's No Good (Live In Barcelona) 7. A Question Of Time (Live In Barcelona) 8. Precious (Live In Barcelona) 9. Fly On The Windscreen (Live In Barcelona) 10. Jezebel (Live In Barcelona) 11. Home (Live In Barcelona) 12. Come Back (Live In Barcelona) 13. Policy Of Truth (Live In Barcelona) 14. In Your Room (Live In Barcelona) 15. I Feel You (Live In Barcelona) 16. Enjoy The Silence (Live In Barcelona) 17. Never Let Me Down Again (Live In Barcelona) 18. Dressed In Black (Live In Barcelona) 19. Stripped (Live In Barcelona) 20. Behind The Wheel (Live In Barcelona) 21. Personal Jesus (Live In Barcelona) 22. Waiting For The Night (Live In Barcelona) 23. World In My Eyes (Live In Barcelona) 24. Sister Of Night (Live In Barcelona) 25. Miles Away / The Truth Is (Live In Barcelona) 26. One Caress (Live In Barcelona)

I'm a sucker for a good movie soundtrack. Thomas Newman's brilliant and emotive lowkey string and piano soundtrack for the 2002 film "Road to Perdition" directed by Sam Mendes and starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and many other great actors and actresses, has the feel of a lost album. There are moments of such heart rending beauty on this soundtrack that even without the film one could easily fall headlong into the great compositions. There are moments of fragility, tempered by choice picks from the 1930s big band sounds, and then layered compositions which play on the emotional template of the film itself with the use of dark sounding string orchestras and piano solos. There's even an emotional piano duo with Tom Hanks and Paul Newman that only helps accentuate the gut wrenching emotions in the film. But, like I said, the film is optional for listening pleasure. Yes, it might help you enjoy the CD even more, but it is not a requisite to feel what Thomas Newman was attempting to impart with this excellent soundtrack work. Definitely worth adding to your music library if only for the fact that really great film soundtracks are so few and far between these days.

Anyone familiar with the genre exploding alt-rock group knows the name Jonny Greenwood, the man responsible for some of the greatest 21st century compositions to date. It was inevitable that he would find his way into cinematic music at some point. That being said, there was still plenty of room for hubris and ego to totally wreck any of his soundtrack works. But Holy SHIT! this is one of the darkest and emotive soundtracks of the century, a film directed by the great Paul Thomas Anderson, starring one of our greatest living actors, Daniel Day Lewis. I guarantee this is a soundtrack that music lovers will not only be talking about for years to come (after all, the man won an Grammy for his work on this soundtrack), but it may be the template for perfection in the soundtrack genre. There are moments when the strings and the piano and the scenes from the movie come together in such a way that you almost feel the need to sob; your heart feels close to breaking. But remember: this is the man who has helped compose RADIOHEAD's music since the 90s, who has been instrumental in making the band's huge success, in the band's complete domination of alt rock music. Jonny Greenwood is a man to be watched in the future of cinematic soundtracks. I can honestly say that without his soundtrack the movie would not have held the emotional weight as it does. If you don't feel this music throughout your body, you may be dead already. Seriously.

In the annals of great blues rock live recordings there are some albums that are legendary, and this is one of them. The 1971 live concert recordings by The Yardbirds and Jimmy Page have become synonymous with greatness in the guitar rock god world. Page's virtuosity in this live album is unsurpassed by most blues rock guiatrist...well, with maybe the exception of Eric Clapton's 70's live stuff...but that exception aside, this is one of the greatest livde albums ever put on vinyl. Thankfully there was a re-issue in 2000 that helped to not only capture the original feel of the live album, but also added another layer to the whole, by giving us extras and outtakes that didn't make the original album's release for obvious reasons. Every member of the band was at their best for this particular recording, and The Yardbirds are one of the greatest British blues bands of all time, so you know you're getting quality with this album. So, if you're any kind of blues-rock fan, this is a must own album by one of the greatest blues-rock groups to ever pick up instruments. They knew what worked and made each and every cover tune their own.And even if none of that convinces you, then just by default Jimmy Page's work with these guys should be enough to make you salivate for the album.

About Me

I have several blogs: THE BLACK GLOVE, devoted to horror culture and entertainment, ME AND KRAV MAGA, devoted to my martial arts work over the years, THE HORROR JAZZ AND BLUES REVIEW, my official author website, 'ROUND MIDNIGHT, devoted to my jazz, blues and soul music passion and THE HOUSE OF DR. JOHNNY FEVER MUSIC REVIEWS, which is devoted to all my other musical passions, heavy metal, hard rock, alternative and other genres of music; reviews, interviews and industry news.